Fuel transfer station and refillable fuel cell for fuel transfer station

Abstract

A fuel transfer station may provide for the refilling of fuel canisters providing fuel to combustion powered equipment. The fuel transfer station may include a base, a frame coupled to the base, a first connection port and a second connection port provided in the base, and fluid flow lines connecting the first connection port and the second connection port. A supply tank may be supported by the frame and detachably connected to the first connection port. A fuel canister to be refilled may be detachably connected to the second connection port. Fuel contained in the supply tank may be selectively supplied to the fuel canister through the fluid flow lines in response to a pressure gradient drawing the fuel into the fuel canister.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 the refillable canister including: 
 a canister body, wherein at least a portion of the canister body is translucent such that an interior of the fuel canister is visible through the translucent portion of the canister body; 
 a cap portion coupled to an end portion of the canister body; and 
 a coupler in the cap portion, the coupler including a stop mechanism that selectively restricts the flow of fluid through the coupler; 
 the closed loop fuel transfer station including: 
 a first connection port; 
 a second connection port; 
 a fluid flow line connecting the first connection port and the second connection port, the fluid flow line having an inlet portion proximate the first connection port and an outlet portion proximate the second connection port; 
 a first coupler configured to detachably couple a supply tank to the fluid flow line at the first connection port; 
 a second coupler configured to detachably couple the refillable fuel canister to the fluid flow line at the second connection port; 
 a first check valve at the inlet portion of the fluid flow line; 
 a second check valve at the outlet portion of the fluid flow line; and 
 a pump in fluid communication with the fluid flow line, so as to selectively pressurize the fluid flow line. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure relief valve provided in the fluid flow line, between the first check valve and the second check valve, and configured to selectively release pressure from the fluid flow line in response to detection of a pressure in the fluid flow line that is greater than or equal to a previously defined pressure level, the previously defined pressure level corresponding to an overfill point of the refillable fuel canister. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection port and the first coupler are configured to detachably couple a plurality of different supply tanks to the fluid flow line, the plurality of different supply tanks having different capacities. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second connection port and the second coupler are configured to detachably couple a plurality of different fuel canisters to the fluid flow line, the plurality of different fuel canisters having different capacities. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second connection port includes a keying feature, the keying feature including a contoured inner section defined on an inner peripheral portion of the second connection port, the contoured inner section having a contour corresponding to a contour of a contoured outer section defined on a corresponding outer peripheral portion of the fuel canister. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein alignment of the contoured outer section of the fuel canister with the contoured inner section of the second connection port defines an insertion orientation for coupling the fuel canister in the second connection port. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second connection port includes a keying feature, the keying feature including a contoured inner section defined on an inner peripheral portion of the second connection port, the contoured inner section being configured to selectively engage with a movable release pad on a corresponding outer peripheral portion of the fuel canister. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a release mechanism extending into the second connection port, the release mechanism including: a release arm; and
 a release button at a proximal end portion of the release arm, 
 wherein a distal end portion of the release arm is configured to depress the release pad on the outer peripheral portion of the fuel canister in response to actuation of the release button at the proximal end portion of the release arm, releasing engagement of the contoured inner section and the release pad to release the fuel canister from the first connection port. 
 
     
     
       9. A refillable fuel canister, comprising:
 a canister body, wherein at least a portion of the canister body is translucent such that an interior of the fuel canister is visible through the translucent portion of the canister body; 
 a cap portion coupled to an end portion of the canister body; 
 a coupler in the cap portion, the coupler including a stop mechanism that selectively restricts the flow of fluid through the coupler. 
 
     
     
       10. The canister of  claim 9 , further comprising compressible material received in the interior of the canister body, wherein a volume occupied by the compressible material at a first pressure in the interior of the fuel canister is greater than a volume occupied by the compressible material at a second pressure in the interior of the fuel canister, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure. 
     
     
       11. The canister of  claim 10 , wherein the compressible material includes a plurality of masses of the compressible material moving freely within the interior of the fuel canister. 
     
     
       12. The canister of  claim 10 , wherein the compressible material includes a plurality of pieces of compressible material arranged along an inner circumferential surface of the canister body. 
     
     
       13. A fuel transfer device, comprising:
 a cylinder; 
 a piston reciprocably received in the cylinder; 
 an inlet portion in communication with an interior portion of the cylinder; 
 a check valve coupled to the inlet portion; and 
 a fuel transfer nozzle installed at an outlet portion of the cylinder, the fuel transfer nozzle including a nozzle tip at an outlet portion of the fuel transfer nozzle, wherein the inlet portion is configured to be removably coupled to a supply tank, and the nozzle tip of the fuel transfer nozzle is configured to be removably coupled in a fill valve of a fuel canister. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein a reciprocal movement of the piston in the cylinder in a first direction is configured to draw fuel from the supply tank and into the interior of the cylinder through the inlet portion. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein a reciprocal movement of the piston in the cylinder in a second direction, opposite the first direction, is configured to draw fuel from the interior of the cylinder, through the nozzle tip of the fuel transfer adapter, and into the fuel canister through the fill valve. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the fuel transfer nozzle includes:
 a fuel flow path guiding fuel through the fuel transfer nozzle; and 
 a spring loaded valve positioned within the fuel flow path of the fuel to selectively control a flow of fuel along the fuel flow path through the fuel transfer nozzle. 
 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 16 , wherein, in response to an external force applied to the nozzle tip, the spring loaded valve is configured to be compressed so as to open the fuel flow path, and to allow fuel to flow from the interior portion of the cylinder and out through the nozzle tip of the fuel flow nozzle. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein, in response to removal of the external force applied to the nozzle tip, the spring loaded valve is configured to close the fuel flow path, so as to restrict the flow of fuel through the fuel flow nozzle. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 16 , wherein the fuel flow nozzle further comprises a lubrication port in communication with the fuel flow path. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the check valve is configured to be coupled between a first end portion of the inlet portion and an outlet portion of the supply tank, or the check valve is configured to be coupled between a second end portion of the inlet portion and the piston.